Does the engine fan blow towards the radiator or the engine?

[DianaLee]

Engine fan blows towards the engine. Below are relevant details about engine radiator: 1. Introduction: Also called engine coolant radiator, it's a key component of water-cooled engine cooling system. By forcing water circulation to cool the engine, it ensures continuous operation within normal temperature range as a heat exchange device; 2. Principle: The radiator works by dissipating heat energy from coolant. To maintain proper engine temperature, a water pump driven by the engine forces coolant circulation through engine components. The device that absorbs engine heat and releases it to air is called the radiator.

[HannahAnn]

A couple of days ago, I was chatting with the mechanic at the repair shop about this. He said the car's cooling fan is specifically designed to blow directly at the radiator. Think about it: when the high-temperature coolant flows into the radiator, the cold air drawn in by the fan blows directly over the radiator fins, carrying away the heat so the coolant can re-enter the engine cycle. If the fan were to blow directly at the engine block, it wouldn't be as effective—the high temperature in the engine compartment would make it hard for the airflow to penetrate, and it would also easily suck in dust. I used to wonder about this too, but after taking apart the radiator myself, I realized the fan is placed very close to the radiator, with just a cooling grille in between.

[LeValerie]

I remember one summer on the highway when the temperature warning light came on. After stopping, I realized the fan wasn't spinning. Opening the hood and touching the scalding hot radiator housing made me understand the principle. The fan actually blows towards the radiator, not directly at the engine. That's because the engine relies on coolant for heat dissipation - the coolant carries heat to the radiator where the fan assists with cooling. If the fan blew directly at the hot metal parts of the engine, the airflow couldn't keep up with the heat generation rate, making it inefficient. Now when washing my car, I always remember to clear debris in front of the radiator to prevent reduced cooling efficiency from the fan.

[GabrielAnn]

Last time I replaced the fan blades on my old car, I realized the fan is positioned right behind the radiator. When the blades rotate, they draw air from the radiator grille area. That's why you often see modified cars with additional openings in the front bumper - to allow more cool air to reach the radiator. The engine's heat is transferred through the cooling system and ultimately dissipated at the radiator via forced airflow from the fan. Blowing air directly at the engine not only creates significant wind resistance but also stirs up hot exhaust gases throughout the engine compartment.